Music Sofa: Musically Motivated Mindset

Those three words, Musically Motivated Mindset, are the meaning of the way I think about alot of things. So much of my mindset has developed from the influence of Music. Think of how Music has influenced your life. Think of how many different cultures and trends Music has raised. As you read this Im sure you can think of more than ten things in your life or in your recent years that has either changed or been created from a song or genre of Music. Im not talking about new dances, that's simple to count out. Im talking about the fashion. I mean clothing you never heard of one week being the most sold item everywhere from the mall to Amazon.com. One video, an apperance on 106 and Park, a popular movie apperance or just spotted at the store of a certain brand and BOOM! Those pair of jeans that were $10 at Wal-Mart or Marshalls are now $110 at Up Against the Wall and Journeys. Though some of those clothing styles tend to fade away, some stick around for years! Shoes mostly, look at the popularity of Shell toe Adidas started from RUN DMC. Chucks always been fly with some khakis because of the west coast hip hop influence. And I dont know who kicked off the Air Force One trend. But after Nelly and the St. Lunatics dropped a track about them, I didnt see a plain black or white pair for like a year! Now Im mostly a hip hop person. Though I do venture out into many different genres and I will say that the influence of rock and roll, alternative and punk have changed the game as far as the fashion world. Skinny jeans, though I personally dont agree with them, have a tight grasp on fashion in every aspect of the word. Music definitely plays a key role in a large amount of hair styles. Ive seen a few Lady GaGa, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna immitators out there. The dark ceasar with the part is still somewhat popular but the game has thrown in all kinds of designs and lines. As you can see the evidence is clear of what Music does to fashion.

Now, lets talk the talk. The way people speak has definitely been affected by Music. If I go on without mentioning E-40, I'd be disrespecting this blog. I mean he seriously made his own dictionary. You may not speak like him, may not have even known he has a dictionary. But you have at least heard him on a track or two and you know he has a unique style. How is that influence if we dont use it? He is one of those artist that bring a different dynamic to the game. Just because you bring it doesnt mean it will change the world. At the same time just because it doesnt change the vast majority, it changes something. He made it out to be different, unique and mix things up. But he wasnt the only one. Outkast for example came so different that most almost didnt respect it. They came with a style that combined their layed back southern personalities, with a Westcoast California type rhythmic flow. They soon changed their style to the flow you hear today which still is a huge influence on the "lingo and swag" of todays listeners and fans. My most favorite in the class has to be T.I. Nobody has the southern gentleman slash gangsta rap persona like that dude. He made it ok to speak in an intellectual way and not have to fight your southern draw. Dudes and chicks alike were tryna put "the draw" in their speech. I myself have had to tell a few chicks that they are "not New New" and need to stop. Its all love though. lol

But in the greatest aspect of all, Music has influenced so many young people to persue their dream and fight tooth and nail until you get to the top. Even though my next example is more of an actor, I dont know one person that doesnt love "Blame it on the ah-ah-ah-ah-ah alcohol". Thats Jaime Foxx. This man literally came from NOTHING. The true slums down in Dallas Texas in a part of a city that the whites and blacks still remain seperated by a set of train tracks. He did a lot more than Music and is recognized for the movies and The Jamie Foxx show. But he is truely a musical genius and definitely an inspiration and role model to the young people. Another example that you can do and be anything you set your mind and heart to. There are so many more stories I could put out there. So many artist came from garage bands to sold out concerts. From selling crack to selling multi platinum albums and some to their own record companies.

Music was the first thing that let me know I am worth what I make myself out to be. I have other inspirations and different people as idividuals that gave me input on how a man should be, what a man is, what they see in me and those that pushed me toward my goals. But Music...Music is one true love that has never turned me down. Never lied to me or cheated on me. When Im mad, so is Music. When I horny, so is Music. Music is the one thing that can bring me to tears just with words because Music always knows what to say. Music has changed feelings and thought in life without even trying. How many songs are there that can come on while you are making love and make you go crazy? How many songs have said exactly how you feel about the person you were with even when you didnt know how to say it yourself? Wedding songs that bring brides to tears. Funeral tunes that make even the toughest man cry for the deceased. Songs about mothers and children that make you go home and just hold them and miss them if you cant. I'm deployed as I currently write this and there are song I listen to out here that make me go from proud to be in the military, to ready to fight, to I miss my girl and most of them just make me miss my son.

Music is not just a pass time. Its not just something you throw on because you bored. Im pretty sure if thats why you cut it on you wont be anymore. Music to me, is a way of life. Its influence is infinate to what it has done and changed. There are those who may argue that most Music these days destroy the mind of the youth and our country. But its NOT the Music. Its how that person was raised. I heard EVERY SINGLE ALBUM and majority of the stuff no one has really heard from the rapper Eminem. I have never slit a girlfriends throat or takin any kinda drugs in the form of a pill that werent perscribed. I dont make fun of homosexuals nor do I hate my mother. But I do know how people who have been threw some of the same things he has feel. I know how someone who has lived in the slums majority of their life feels. Thats not to take away from those people. Ive never walked in Eminems shoes. But he told me how it would be and the lyrical geniuus over the beat made me feel like I damn near was there. He is one of my favorite artist. To discredit him and others like him because of the content, and not focus on the actual skill and TRUE influence is a crime to me!

All in all I LOVE MUSIC. There is no other way to put it. There is nothing more that I want than to see artist after artist, from rap to rock, from school talent show to Madison Square Garden, to continue to bring hit after hit, album after album, year after year. Life is short, music is forever.

-LoKo